Images

Notice the Scan Eagle avoids landing on its nose with a really tricky
vertical wire catch mechanism. That's going to be the weak point of
the Jackaroo if you opt for the clear dome on the nose, unless you
add landing gear and fly it off a runway, which sort of defeats of
the purpose having all the gear inside to lower drag. With the gear
you have extra drag. Without the gear, you'll get chips and scratches
in the dome in no time.

I'd opt for a non-clear nose, that can take some abuse, and put
the camera on top. The biggest advantage to a fuse design like this
is that it'll be *much* easier to balance than the typical flying wing,
because the battery can be shifted around over the CG. Can change
battery sizes much easier.

I've actually been contemplating something like this for a while
as I found the EPO fuse on my "Scoutjet" to be too fragile. Was thinking
of using a thin walled PVC or ABS pipe as the fuse with an EPP nose.

Notice the Scan Eagle avoids landing on its nose with a really tricky
vertical wire catch mechanism. That's going to be the weak point of
the Jackaroo if you opt for the clear dome on the nose, unless you
add landing gear and fly it off a runway, which sort of defeats of
the purpose having all the gear inside to lower drag. With the gear
you have extra drag. Without the gear, you'll get chips and scratches
in the dome in no time.

I'd opt for a non-clear nose, that can take some abuse, and put
the camera on top. The biggest advantage to a fuse design like this
is that it'll be *much* easier to balance than the typical flying wing,
because the battery can be shifted around over the CG. Can change
battery sizes much easier.

I've actually been contemplating something like this for a while
as I found the EPO fuse on my "Scoutjet" to be too fragile. Was thinking
of using a thin walled PVC or ABS pipe as the fuse with an EPP nose.

ian

It'd be neat if you could simply hinge a self-contained dome by the top of the fuse with a servo that would allow you to simply hinge the entire dome up when landing. Obviously would create drag/shift COG when engaged but it would be a lightweight solution that if done at the right moment while landing would prevent scratching. The weight penalty for the hinge/servo would be minimal I'd think.

Notice the Scan Eagle avoids landing on its nose with a really tricky
vertical wire catch mechanism. That's going to be the weak point of
the Jackaroo if you opt for the clear dome on the nose, unless you
add landing gear and fly it off a runway, which sort of defeats of
the purpose having all the gear inside to lower drag. With the gear
you have extra drag. Without the gear, you'll get chips and scratches
in the dome in no time.

I'd opt for a non-clear nose, that can take some abuse, and put
the camera on top. The biggest advantage to a fuse design like this
is that it'll be *much* easier to balance than the typical flying wing,
because the battery can be shifted around over the CG. Can change
battery sizes much easier.

I've actually been contemplating something like this for a while
as I found the EPO fuse on my "Scoutjet" to be too fragile. Was thinking
of using a thin walled PVC or ABS pipe as the fuse with an EPP nose.

ian

Were keeping it simple.

There are over 200 landings with the dome in front. Not one cracked yet. Scratches are the largest concern.

Tried all you suggested. ABS, PVC, a special blue tube for rockets, molded fuselages and all foam fuselages. If you want it low cost and at a decent weight it will have to be all foam.

It has a very large CG range so you can put your gear in multiple locations. IF you do not want a clear dome just let us know and we will work on making it an option.

Very cool! I have been a fan of the Scan Eagle and have considered taking my 60" Ritewing and making a tube fuselage for it with a dome in the front. This looks exactly like I was thinking it would turn out. Is there ANY ballpark price yet?

As for the dome getting scratched, how about a servo activated shield or skid that moves into place when needed? Probably easier that having the whole thing rotate/retract. Or, if the domes are cheap enough where you could by a dozen or so at a good price, just replace as needed. But I know good optically clear ones are not cheap, http://www.cleardomes.com/smalldomes.htm

Very cool! I have been a fan of the Scan Eagle and have considered taking my 60" Ritewing and making a tube fuselage for it with a dome in the front. This looks exactly like I was thinking it would turn out. Is there ANY ballpark price yet?

As for the dome getting scratched, how about a servo activated shield or skid that moves into place when needed? Probably easier that having the whole thing rotate/retract. Or, if the domes are cheap enough where you could by a dozen or so at a good price, just replace as needed. But I know good optically clear ones are not cheap, http://www.cleardomes.com/smalldomes.htm

a cover is an interesting idea. Probably something we would not provide on the aircraft to save cost but we could most defiantly distribute drawing details on a working mechanism.

Should not be long. Would you guys like a closed dome option? It will bring the price down a good amount.

Chris

Chris I would sell the plane with a foam dome and a clear dome as a seperate upgrade. I would like to start out with a foam dome until I know the plane is flying well (hate to nose it in on the maiden with an expensive clear dome)that way I am not risking the dome until I comfortable with the plane.

Could you share any details about how the motor mount and winglets attach or will that be left to the builder to decide? Will Vtx and gps slots and cavities be molded or routed into the wings?

Excited to see the final product, its looking like it might just be my next project.

It will come with either a clear or a fiberglass dome depending on what the customer chooses. The winglets will screw into blind nuts to make them easy to remove. Still working on the motormount.

The GPS can actually be mounted inside the fuselage since there's no material in the plane that will interfere with it. I mount it inside the Osprey fuselage and have never had a problem with GPS reception.

Shouldn't be a problem to rout a cavity for the video TX into the wing - just have to decide how far out of the fuselage to rout the pocket.